Theatrical apparatus.



No. 782,049. PATENTED JUNE 30, 1903.

L. J. COUCH. THEATRIOAL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 001227, 1902.

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UNlTED STATES Patented June 30, 1903. PATENT OFFICE.

LEVI J. COUCH, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

TH EATRlCAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,049, dated June 30, 1903.

Application filed October 27, 1902 Serial No. 128,839. (No model.)

pulleys of the loft-blocks attached to the To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI J. COUCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in

the county-of Hartford and State of Connecti out, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Theatrical Apparatus,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for lights, (850., which hang below the gridiron,

through the blocks to the pin-rail in the flygallery. The drops, flies, and lights are sometimes required in one position and sometimes in another between the front and the back of the stage. It is impracticable when setting a stage to change the position of the ropes from one set of loft and head blocks to another or to lower a drop, fly, or light and attach it to a different set of ropes. Frequently a particular drop, fly, or light is desired in a plane in which there are no loft and head blocks, and then such blocks have to be unfastened from their supports and fastened in the desired plane.

The object of the inventionis to provide a simple and cheap apparatus for supporting such paraphernalia which is safe, strong, and

can be instantly shifted,- so that a curtain,

drop, fly, or light can be moved up or down stage to any necessary position without delay. To accomplish this, a pair of racks are secured a shortdistance apart up and down stage on the gridiron floorover each of the points of attachment of the guy-ropes to the curtains, drops, flies, and lights, and reniovably inserted in these pairs of racks are the ends of a number of frames bearing pulleys. At one side above the pin-rail a similar pair of racks is secured. In this pair of racks the ends of frames bearing pulleys are removably inserted. There are as many pulleys in each of the latter frames as there are pulleys ,in the frames in the same vertical plane onthe gridiron floor. The ropes pass from the top bars of the curtains, drops, flies, and lights through the frames and over the gridiron floor, then through the frame and around the pulleys of the head-blocks at the side, and down to the pins-0n the pin-rail in the fly-gallery, where they are fastened.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a representation of a section of the gridiron floor above the stage of the theater, showing the improved loft and head blocks and a portion of a drop supported by ropes passing over the pulleys of these blocks. Fig. 2 shows a plan of a loft-block and the racks which retain it in position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the loft-blocks. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of a loft-block, showinga section of one of the racks. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the head'blocks with a part broken away.

The gridiron floor'is formed of strips 1, fastened to joists 2, that are supported near the roof above the stage of a theater. On this floor and extending from front to back are three pairs of racks. One rack of each pair is formed of a plate or bar 3, with upwardlyextending loops 4. These vertical loops are made as near to or as far from each other as desired. The other TttGl i of each pair is formed of a bar or plate 5, with loops 6.

These preferably incline outwardly, and they are arranged so that the spaces between them in the loops of the other rack of the pair.

At one side and extending from front to back of the stage on the gridiron floor is a rack consisting of a bar or plate 7 and angularly-arranged loops b. Above this rack and a little to one side is a rack that consists of a bar or plate 9, with loops 10, that extend at right angles thereto. Each loft-block consists of a frame 11, of wood or metal, between the side plates of which is a loose pulley 12. One end of each loft-blockframe has a tongue 13, adapted to fit into the loops 4 of one rack. Theother end of each frame has a tongue 14, adapted to fit between the loops Got the opposite rack. A number of these loft-blocks are placed in each pair of racks.

Each head-block consists of a similar frame 15, of wood or metal, between the side plates of which are a number of pulleys 16 equal to the number of loft-blocks that are in the same vertical plane. Each of these frames has at one end a tongue 17, adapted to enter the loops 10 of the upper head-block rack, and at the other end a tongue 18, adapted to enter the loops 8 of-the lower head-block rack.

the head-block pulleys down to the pin-rail 21, where they are rove around a pin 22. The racks are so located that the tongues on the ends of the block-frames may be quickly slipped under one set of loops and dropped between the other set of loops, as illustrated in Fig. 3. The loops are arranged to resist the st rains upon the blocks-that is, the racks, with the loops, are on the side of the loftblocks which would tend to lift up, if either side tended to lift, and the open racks are placed on the side of the loft-blocks which have no tendency to lift under the strains to which the blocks are normally subjected. The head-block racks are arranged so that the loops hold the upper ends, while comparatively little strain comes upon the loops at the lower ends, the weight being carried by the plate.

It is preferred to form all of the racks alike for both the loft-blocks and head-blocks; but of course, if desired, they may be different. The frames for the loftblocks and headblocks may be made similarly; but it is preferred to make the head-block frames longer than the loft-block frames,for the reason that each head-block frame carries a number of pulleys, While each loft-block frame carries but a single pulley.

' When it is desired to change the vertical plane of a curtain, drop, fly, light, or other piece of scenic paraphernalia or to arrange it obliquely tothe stage, it is not necessary to change the ropes or unfasten the apparatus and attach it to other ropes. It is only necessary to lift an end of each of the blocks out of its rack, Withdrawthe other end from its loop, and then locate it in the desired plane by inserting an end in the necessary loop'and dropping the other end between the corresponding loops. If the change of position of a loft-block is but little, it may not be necessary to change the location of the head- A head-block is arranged block; but, if desirable, the head-block can be changed in a like manner by lifting one end from between the rack-loops and then withdrawing the other end from between the rack loops and locating the block in a new position.

By reason of this construction a permanent and strong apparatus is provided which permits a quick change of a curtain, drop, fly, or light from an undesirable to a desirable position.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with the gridiron floor of a theater, of a number of pairs of racks extending up and down the stage, a number of frames removably held by said racks in the same vertical plane and pulleys supported by the frames, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with the gridiron floor of a theater, of a number of pairs of loftblock racks extending up and down the stage, a number of frames removably held by said loft-block racks in the same vertical plane, a pulley held by each loft-block frame, apair of head-block racks extending up and down the stage at one side of and higher than the loft-block racks, a number of frames removably held by said head-block racks and a number of pulleys held by each head-block frame, substantially as specified.

3. A theatrical apparatusconsisting of a pair of racks, a frame with its ends removably held by the racks, and a pulley held by the frame, substantially as specified.

4. A theatrical apparatus consisting of a pair of racks, one of said racks havingloops and the other having openings, a frame having one end adapted to enter the loops of one rack and the other end adapted to pass into the openings of the other rack, and a pulley held by the frame, substantially as specified.

5. A theatrical apparatus consisting ofa pair of racks, one rack having vertically-extending loops and the other rack having inclined loops, a frame having an end adapted to enter the vertical loops and an end adapt-' ed to be inserted between the inclinedloops and a pulley supported by the frame, substantially as specified.

6. A theatrical apparatus having a movably-supported head-block consisting of a frame and pulleys, and a plurality-of movably-supported loft-blocks each consisting of iframe and a pulley, substantially as speci- LEvi J. COUCH.

Witnesses:

M. J. NEvELs, JAcoB COHEN. 

